Now Available To Own: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Ride Along, Philomena, and More

Prepare your bank accounts, it’s time to see what’s Now Available To Own for the week of April 15, 2014. Each week we run down new releases in movies, television series, and video games that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home. On shelves this week, you can find titles such as The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Philomena, Ride Along, and more. Check out the complete list of new releases and see if you should buy, rent, or pass ’em after the jump.

Movies on Blu-Ray

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) A day-dreamer escapes his anonymous life by disappearing into a world of fantasies filled with heroism, romance and action. When his job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, he takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined. Starring Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Sean Penn, and Patton Oswalt (Watch the trailer)

Aside from the obvious life messages The Secret Life of Walter Mitty tries to blatantly place in your lap, Ben Stiller orchestrates a very strong, visually impactful film. It’s not that the movie has any big faults, as it is beautiful and sweet, Mitty just holds your hand too often, never giving the audience a chance to think for themselves. There are lighthearted moments that are too on the nose which feature absurd product placement gags that are too intrusive.

Despite it’s minor issues, Mitty is an average movie that is good for a rainy day. Brilliantly shot to give it that LIFE Magazine feel, the Blu-Ray transfer is gorgeous. Mitty is a sure RENT, and for those who find a deeper connection, I wouldn’t be afraid to BUY it as something mom will love. The special features are really solid, providing a solid look into the making of the film:

Behind-the-scenes of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Deleted, extended & alternate scenes

Music video: “Stay Alive” by José González

Pre-viz

Still gallery

The look of Life

Ride Along(Tim Story) Fast-talking security guard Ben joins his cop brother-in-law James on a 24-hour patrol of Atlanta in order to prove himself worthy of marrying Angela, James’ sister. Starring Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Tika Sumpter, and John Leguizamo (Watch the trailer here)

I actually skipped Ride Along earlier this year because I was so burnt out from last year. I heard good things, and would be willing to check it out as a solid RENT. The special features are abundant, and includes:

Alternate ending

Deleted scenes

Alternate take

Kev & Cub’s wild ride

You gonna learn today

Anatomy of the big blast

An explosive ride

Additional features:

Gag reel

It was a good day – on the set of Ride Along

Atlanta: the character

Feature commentary with director Tim Story

The Nut Job (Peter Lepeniotis) Surly, a curmudgeon, independent squirrel is banished from his park and forced to survive in the city. Lucky for him, he stumbles on the one thing that may be able to save his life, and the rest of park community, as they gear up for winter – Maury’s Nut Store. Starring Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, and Katherine Heigl (Watch the trailer here)

This just looks awful. I wouldn’t put this on a mother with the worst kids. Well, maybe I would, but The Nut Job still comes off as one of the most terrible ideas ever; placing animation back 10 years. SKIP IT! The special features included are:

Deleted scenes

Storyboards

The great nut heist

Dance-off end credits

Animated shorts

Philomena (Stephen Frears) A world-weary political journalist picks up the story of a woman’s search for her son, who was taken away from her decades ago after she became pregnant and was forced to live in a convent. Starring Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Sophie Kennedy Clark, and Mare Winningham

Philomena was an OK piece of drama. I couldn’t really care much for it, but it had the Academy folks buzzing. I thought Dench’s performance was pretty subpar. There wasn’t anything very unique or interesting from what I took away from her performance or the story itself. I would NETFLIX this movie if it becomes available. The special features included are:

A conversation with Judi Dench

The real Philomena Lee

Q&A with Steve Coogan

Feature commentary with Steve Coogan and screenwriter Jeff Pope

Black Nativity (Kasi Lemmons) A street-wise teen from Baltimore who has been raised by a single mother travels to New York City to spend the Christmas holiday with his estranged relatives, where he embarks on a surprising and inspirational journey. Starring Forest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Jennifer Hudson, and Mary J. Blige (Watch the trailer)

The people behind Black Nativity want to really make up for the grade F musical by incorporating as many special features as possible:

Deleted scenes

First look

The music behind the film: “he loves me still”

The music behind the film: with Raphael Saadiq

The cast of black nativity

Introducing Jacob Latimore

An inspiring playwright: Langston Hughes

Inside production in Harlem

Be grateful

Feel good

Photoshoot b-roll

Stan Lee’s Mighty 7: Beginnings After stumbling upon seven aliens that crash-landed in the desert, Stan finds himself swept up in the group’s journey as a top-secret military force led by the ominous Mr. Cross and the evil reptilian Taegons close in. Stan quickly moves the aliens to his Malibu beach house, but in order to guarantee their survival, he must show the Mighty 7 how to develop their powers and become Earth’s newest team of superheroes. Starring ArmieHammer, Christian Slater, Mayim Bialik, Teri Hatcher, Flea, Darren Criss, and Sean Astin

A unique, fun animated feature for the kids. Mighty 7 has a stacked roster of known celebrities that bring life to the superhero team. They’re no Avengers, but it’s good to see Stan Lee has enough juice in that wonderful brain of his to pump out more heroes outside of the Marvel universe. Special features included are:

Extended Scenes

Script-to-Screen Featurette

Composer’s Favorite Music Cues

Stan Lee Trivia Game

Production Sketches

And More…

Television on Blu-Ray

Anger Management: The Complete Third Season (Bruce Helford) A guy is sentenced to anger management counseling with an aggressive instructor. Starring Charlie Sheen, Shawnee Smith, and Noureen DeWulf

I have never seen this show, and I can’t believe it has three seasons already. #Winning? Such an astounding amount of special features…

Gag reel

Video Games

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil (PS3, Xbox 360)2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil lets you choose from any of the 203 National Teams sanctioned by FIFA and play with up to 32 players through qualifying rounds, eventually proceeding on to the group stages of the World Cup. Feel the support of an entire nation with all-new crowd scenes in 21 new stadiums, including all 12 authentic stadiums in Brazil. New features included are:

An all-new control system, which includes response dribbling for quick turns at every angle and pinpoint passing for accurate and direct passing to teammates

Realistic adidas ball physics system, constructed from physics data taken from the adidas Innovation Lab in Herzogenaurach, Germany, so the Brazuca and other adidas balls provide lifelike flight and grass friction in the game

New save animations and shot tuning that puts you in control of your nation’s fate — distract the kick-taker by using Goalkeeper Antics like wobbly-knees, matador and shoot-it-there animations

Jump over your opponent’s back to win a possession battle and head the ball

Complete adidas micoach training sessions to boost in-game attributes for specific players on your team, choosing from six different attribute boosts and 18 different drills to improve your players’ performances during the tournament

Captain Your Country game mode

Play more than 60 real scenarios that the world actually witnessed during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying stages

For 1 to 7 players offline or up to 2 players online

Blu-Ray Deals and Steals

Rise of the Gaurdians – $10

Epic – $13

Fast & Furious 6 – $13

Frozen – $13

Peter Pan – $13

Brave – $13 Turbo – $13

Transformers: Dark of the Moon – $13 Ted – $13

Monsters University – $13

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – $13

Jaws – $13

Cinderella – $13

Prometheus – $13

Ender’s Game – $13

21 Jump Street – $13

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 – $13

Captain Phillips – $13

Tangled – $13

Enough Said – $13

The Wolf of Wall Street – $13

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues – $13

The Wolverine – $13

12 Years a Slave – $13

Mama – $13

The Jungle Book – $13

The Little Mermaid – $13

All of these prices come from Target as part of their HUGE Easter sale. If the store is out you can price match them at Fry’s, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, or Amazon.com.

What will you be taking home this week, tell us in the comments section below? Check out previous installments of Now Available To Own to see what you’ve been missing.
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